DSM Q1 2001 operating profit surpasses Q4 2000 level

03 May 2001

DSM posted an operating profit of EUR 159 million in the first quarter of 2001, up 21% on the fourth quarter of 2000 but down 20% on Q1 2000.

Q1 sales in Performance Materials were 4% lower than in Q1 2000. The sales figure adjusted for the divestment of DSM Engineering Plastic Products (1 January 2001) and the Compounds business of DSM Composite Resins (first half of 2000) increased by 9% due to autonomous volume growth, higher selling prices and a high dollar exchange rate. The cluster's autonomous volume growth was attributable to higher sales volumes for all business groups, except DSM Composite Resins. At all business groups, margins were under pressure from an increase in raw material prices. Like the adjusted sales figure, the adjusted operating profit, too, increased substantially. DSM High Performance Fibers and DSM Desotech in particular showed an excellent performance.